"When did you get here?" my dad asked later that day, after he got home from work.

"Around noon," I answered. "Why? Not happy to see me?"

"Of course I am, son, I just wish it wasn't such a surprise. What brings you back after all this time?" Ha! No way in hell he missed me. He probably wouldn't miss any of us kids if we disappeared. But I wasn't going to call him out on it.

"I just thought it was time to return," was all I said. To be honest, it had been over five years since my parents really saw me. With my mom's alcohol induced hangovers, it was advisable for us kids to find quiet hobbies. And music isn't quiet. So I spent most of my time out of the house, down the street at Dien's where we all practiced.

My father nodded, nothing on his face to betray any emotion he may be feeling, and then turned and walked away.

"Trystin," I hissed as he passed by my room. Once he stopped, I walked over to him so as to not be over heard. "Can you help keep an eye on Sienna?"

"What do you mean?" he whispered. 

"Keep an eye on what, and how much, she drinks."

"Oh, yeah, sure."

I smiled softly. "Thanks. Is she doing any better?"

"Not really. She actually got a little worse not that long ago."

"How long ago?" I closed my eyes, preparing myself for the answer I already knew.

"Five years." 

"What about the...?"

"Way she is when she's...?"

I nodded. Trystin and I had almost always had a connection like that.

"Not as bad as when you first left."

I opened my eyes again and looked down at my favorite sibling. Scanning his face for any lies, I found nothing.Then I let my eyes drop.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, not able to look at him any longer, to see the pain of the past five years in his eyes.

"None of us blame you," he replied, reaching up to place his hand on my shoulder. 

Breath caught in my throat. I took Trystin's wrist and puled his arm up so I could look at it. Pushing up the sleeve of his jacket, which should have been suspicious enough because it was July, I saw the real reason for his long sleeves.

"What is this?" I demanded, examining his wrist.

"Nothing." he replied quickly, yanking his arm away and pushing the sleeve back down. 

"Not as bad," I said, repeating Trystin's words. Then I sighed in understanding. "But not gone."

"It's no big deal," stated Trystin.

"No big deal!?" I struggled to keep my voice low. "Those bruises look like you've been tied up or something. What exactly happened when I left?"

The pain began to make an appearance in his eyes and guilt filled every part of me. 

"Come with me," Trystin instructed, pulling me form my room to his down the hall. He motioned for me to sit on his bed while he closed the bedroom door. Trystin came over and pulled his desk chair next to the bed and sat down. 

"Everything that happened is my fault," I said.

"But-"

"I know none of you blame me, but that doesn't change anything. If I would have just stayed here.... Trystin, you have to tell me everything that has happened since I left, don't leave anything out, no matter how small."

Trystin took a deep breath and leaned back in the chair. "Juely started acting up even more than usual, same with Amri, while Kry threw herself into her school work. Dad seemed like he was in a kind of trance and Mom started drinking more, got slightly more violent, and was around a lot more. I guess that, since my mood changes so suddenly, and it's not hard to get me angry, I got the worst of it."

"Meaning?"

"I'm the favorite punching bag."

I shot to my feet. "What!?"

'Please don't say anything, I'm begging you."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to get in any more trouble."

"What kind of trouble."

He looked away from me.

"How am I supposed-" I started but was cut off when my head started pounding.I forced myself to ignore the pain. "How am I supposed to keep my mouth shut?"

"Please, Jakob. Imagine what will happen to Krystena if CPS takes us away."

He was probably right. With what she had, I doubt she'd be put into a foster home, they might just send her to the psych ward. "Fine. But if I think I should step in, I will."

"Thanks."

I pulled him up and hugged him. "You know, throughout the last five years, I was thinking about what might be going on here. Sometimes I wish I had taken you with me."

"Why me?" he asked, standing at arms length. 

"You were always the one I got along with most, and was the most worried about because of how fast your mood changes. You and Krystena were always the ones picked on in school, but I never worried about her as much. Not because I loved her any different, it's was just that, Amri knows how to handle herself and I know she'll always come to Krystena's aid."

"Every day since you left I've been wondering what it would have been like to go with you."

"I promise that when I leave again, you're coming with."

"How long are you gonna be here, Jake?"

"Just a week."